30 April 2011

A TOTAL of 48 will join the upcoming 11th Cebu Amateur Football Club Interclub on May 21 to 29 at three different venues, the University of San Carlos Technology Center, San Roque and Paref-Springdale.

The annual football tournament, one of the biggest in Cebu City, will have the Players 10, Boys 12, Boys 14, Boys 17, Girls 17, 40-and-above and Men’s Open.

The Boys 17 category has the largest contingent with nine. The Players 10, Boys 12 and Boys 14 divisions have eight teams each, while the Girls 17 category has four. The 40-and-above division has five, while the Men’s Open has six entries.

There will also be four visiting teams—two Aroroy FC teams of Masbate, Westbridge of Iloilo and Hijos FC of Samar.

One of the organizers, Francis Ramirez, said they are still waiting for word from six interested teams. EKA

THE Philippine Navy football squad, started its title-retention bid on a bright note by thrashing Sweden, 4-0, in the opening day of the 2nd World Cup Pilipinas football tournament at the Luneta field in Manila.

Relying on superb defense, the Navy booters earned the most number of goal attempts all-throughout the 90-minute match en route to an unanswered four goals.

The Philippines, with a 1-0 slate, will play again next week. Korea meets Sudan today at 10 a.m. in the first game while Indonesia collides against India at 4:00 p.m.

Organized by TJ Besa, the event is supported by the National Parks Development Committee of the Department of Tourism and the Sunken Garden United Football Club of the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The Philippines will be competing against football teams from Sweden, Mexico, Korea, Indonesia, Sudan, India, and Germany.JOSEF T. RAMOS

The National Capital Region Football Association announced the lineups to its two squads that will compete in the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup quarterfinals that kick off simultaneously in Panaad Stadium, Bacolod and the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna from May 6-10, 2011.

Two teams from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the NCR will compete in a single round robin affair where only the top two teams advance to the semifinals on May 15 and 16 at Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

NCR Team A will be coached by De La Salle University’s Hans Smit and Far Eastern University’s Rodolfo Alicante while NCR Team B will be handled by the University of the Philippines’ Anto Gonzales who himself is a former Azkal.

It would take another heavy task for the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA)-Negros Selection booters today as they badly need a win over their through rival, Iloilo Football Association, in order to earn a slot in Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Men’s National U19 Championship on May 20-29, 2011 at San Carlos City.

The Negrenses dropped to the third position in the team standing, with 2-1, after it failed to control the game’s momentum yesterday against Negros Oriental FA (NORFA). They lost the match, 2-3.

But the hardest thing that the Negrenses had to overcome is the absence of the services of one of their key players, Diomar Caruscay who will not be seeing action today after obtaining two yellow cards yesterday for unsportsmanlike behavior. During yesterday’s game, NORFA’s Nicolas Ferrer started the run with an early goal in the 3rd minute of play but NOFA scored an equalizer from Carlo Lucero’s goal in the 33rd minute. Before the referee blew his whistle at halftime, Negrense striker Jose Francis Rebacca nailed NOFA’s second goal in the 45th minute.

With a 2-1 advantage at the game’s resumption, NOFA tried to hold on their defense by denying NORFA’s goal attempts however, a surprise attack from Eugene Eundo in the 53rd minute tied the match at 2-all. And another goal from Raymund Santillan in the 64th minute sealed the victory for NORFA.

Meanwhile, the top two teams in this qualifier match will earn the slot in the finals. NORFA and Iloilo FA are currently tied in the team standing with two wins and a draw followed by NOFA, Cebu FA (1-2) and Leyte FA (0-3).* (SCOOP-Bacolod)

THE Negros Occidental Football Association-Negros Selection booters, after having a day-off yesterday, will be back on the playing field today to notch their third straight win as they face Negros Oriental Football Association (NORFA) in the ongoing Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Men’s National U19 Championship Visayas Regional Qualifiers at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Also supporting the Negros squad is Talisay City Mayor and Talisay-Minuluan FC president Dr. Eric Saratan.

On the other hand, the May 20-29 scheduled PFF Men’s National U19 Championship earlier set at the Panaad football pitch was moved to San Carlos City because of the upcoming Philippine National Games calendared May 22-29 in Panaad. JSG

FOLLOWING two heart-breaking losses in its first two games in the Philippine Football Federation Men’s National U19 Championship Visayas Qualifiers, the Cebu 19-Under Men’s squad bounced back nicely with 9-1 win over Leyte at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

Paref-Springdale’s Cedric Ang and University of San Carlos’ Dan Villarico led the offensive onslaught of the Cebuanos with three goals each. University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s Carlos Saballero, University of Cebu’s Miko Limalima and Moli Neri added a goal apiece.

Cebu 19-Under Men’s team coach Eleazar Toledo said that the win could boost the team’s morale going into its last match with Iloilo today. He believes that the first two matches could have gone either way but the opposing teams found loopholes in his team’s defense.

Cebu had two similar 2-1 unfortunate losses to home team Bacolod City and Dumaguete in its first two matches.

“The team is composed more of offensive players and not defensive players,” Toledo told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. “We really had no preparation because I just saw the team a day before we left.”

Toledo replaced Glenn Ramos for the coaching job because of the latter’s unavailability.

Toledo is optimistic of Cebu’s chances of landing the second place finish but it will depend on its crucial game with Iloilo today.

“We still have a chance to enter the top two if we beat Iloilo,” he said.

MANILA, Philippines -- ALIA Football Club (FC)-Zamboanga City crushed Stonefield FC, 11-0, last Wednesday to remain in contention in the Western Mindanao cluster qualifiers of the Smart Club Championships at the Pagadian football field in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

E. dela Cruz (8th, 11th and 51st minutes) and J. Jacinto (76th, 79th and 88th) each had a hat trick in powering the Alia booters to their first win in two outings in the tourney sponsored by Smart and organized by the Philippine Football Federation.

Opening on Friday at the University of Makati football field is the National Capital Region (NCR) qualifying tournament with Pasargad, Pachanga, Air Force and Teknika vying for the two NCR slots in the Smart Club semifinals.

Two teams each from Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon and NCR will see action in the semis.

NEGROS Occidental Football Association (Nofa)-Negros Selection booters continue to bask in their home court advantage as they thrashed Leyte Football Association (FA), 10-0, on Wednesday.

They also improved their record to 2-0 in the ongoing Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Men's National U19 Championship Visayas Regional Qualifiers at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Diomar Caruscay led the Negrense offense by scoring five goals of the total 10 goals nailed by Nofa. These include the squad's opening goal in the 12th minute followed by a quick second goal in the 15th then in the 42nd, 46th and 68th minutes of play.

Aside from Caruscay, Carlo Lucero also played a huge game, scoring two goals in the first half - one in the 22nd minute and the other in the 40th minute of the ball game.

Joining the Negrenses' scoring spree were Allen Shane Belera, who made a goal in the 67th minute, followed by another from Jose Francis Rebacca in the 77th minute and Vhertude Javelona in the 85th minute.

In the victory against Cebu on Monday, Rebacca also scored Nofa's opening goal in the 70th minute to lead the Negrense attack along with John Marcellana's insurance goal in the 85th minute for a 2-0 win.

Despite the smooth sailing game for the Negrenses, Nofa's Steven Taclobos still earned a yellow card in the 64th minute after he was cited for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Meanwhile, games on Thursday include Cebu FA facing Leyte FA at 2 p.m., followed by Iloilo FA-Norfa scrimmage at 4 p.m. (JSG)

NATIONAL team manager Dan Palami is hoping the Azkals could get a crack at the Rizal Memorial Stadium football field in early June before they leave for the final phase of their training in Germany for the first leg of their World Cup qualifying series against Sri Lanka on June 29.

"We have asked the Philippine Sports Commission to have the pitch ready after we return from our team-building in Cebu in the first week of June since we have one more week of practice before leaving for Germany," Palami said in the PSA forum last Tuesday at Shakey’s UN Ave. "We have to take advantage of that."

"I’ve been there and I’ve seen the pitch is almost ready," Palami added of the venue that last hosted an international tournament during the 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games and will be the site of the nationals’ return match against the Sri Lankans on July 3.

He said there were still some holes that needed to be filled to prevent players from getting injured.

"Once these holes are repaired, we believe the field will be playable. I think that it is something that can be done in two weeks," he said.

Palami added San Miguel Corp. has committed to fix the seats and bleachers of the 26,000 capacity stadium.

An aide of PSC Commissioner Chito Loyzaga, who was tapped by PSC Chairman Richie Garcia to oversee the repairs, said SMC personnel have visited the stadium and started mapping out plans for the repairs.

Palami also said tickets for the July 3 return match will only be made available once the seating arrangements are finalized, adding this is needed to avoid the overcrowding that marked the Azkals’ game against Mongolia last February at the Panaad Sports Complex.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta Jr. earlier announced tickets would be issued through Ticketworld.

"San Miguel will have to make the seating plan first, not only on the main grandstand but also the surrounding bleachers, including demarcation lines between each ticket holder," Palami said.

Asked if he expects the Rizal stadium to be filled for the Azkals’ first match in Manila, Palami replied: "I believe mapupuno iyon. Hindi pa nga nagbebenta ng tickets yet my Facebook account is being filled with inquiries on how to get them.

"May nagpapa-reserve ng 50, ng 100—I hope they are not scalpers–but I don’t think sponsors will be interested kung hindi kayang punuin. But the indicators are there."

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines could end its long wait for a men’s football medal in the Southeast Asian Games late this year in Indonesia.

Dan Palami, the Azkals manager who also serves as chair of the national teams’ committee of the Philippine Football Federation, is confident that the Under-23 squad in the SEA Games will put up a creditable performance.

“So far, we achieved what we set our sights on, like in the AFF Suzuki Cup and in the AFC Challenge Cup,” said Palami, who bankrolled the national team when support was hard to come by two years ago. “I hope our luck will continue and our success is tangible when it comes to the medal.”

Some members of the senior team are eligible for the SEA Games including goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Yannick Tuason, David Basa, Jason de Jong and Manny Ott.

The standouts from the ongoing Suzuki Cup Under-23 Championship will also be considered for team.

Several more prospects have emerged for the Under-23 side after Azkals coach Michael Weiss scouted players with Filipino lineage in Germany during the Nagold Blitz Football Tournament last week and Azkals captain Aly Borromeo and Anton Del Rosario held tryouts in Daly City, California early this month.

The Philippine team finished second in the four-team tournament, finishing with a win, a draw and a loss against Under-19 squads from Stuttgart, Reutlingen and Nagold.

Weiss said among the standout players were Patrick Reichelt, a striker from the Cottbus second team, who scored five goals in the tournament, and central defender Oliver Poetschke. Also impressing Weiss was Kevin Ingreso, the skipper of Hamburg’s Under-19 squad.

“I might invite them to come to Manila to our camp,” Weiss said in an e-mail.

Del Rosario said the players that impressed in the US tryouts that could beef up the Under-23 squad were OJ Porteria and James Rochilitz.

26 April 2011

TAKING advantage of playing at home, the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) - Negros Selection booters beat Cebu FA yesterday, 2-1 in the opening game of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Men’s National U19 Championship Visayas Regional Qualifiers at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Negrense striker Jose Francis Rebacca scored NOFA’s opening goal in the 70th minute while teammate John Marcellana sunk an insurance goal in the 85th minute of the game to post a 2-0 advantage.

Cebu’s Neri Mole Jr. nailed a goal in the 87th minute to cut the lead to 1-2, giving life to the Cebuanos’ hopes for an equalizer. However, whistles blew to end the regulation at 2-1 in favor for the home squad.

During the early minutes of the second half, Negrense striker Melecio Mentor suffered a head injury and was brought to Riverside Medical Center for medical examination. Mentor’s injury was caused by a collision with Cebu’s keeper Henry Perales on an attempt to score a goal. Perales suffered a cut on his forehead which was immediately treated by tournament physician Dr. Emily Zerrudo.

The NOFA-Negros Selection eyes to duplicate its victory when it faces Leyte FA at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Panaad, as Leyte looks forward to avenge their 0-7 defeat in the hands of Iloilo FA Tuesday. Cebu FA will take on Negros Oriental FA (NORFA) at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Ceres-Negros Selection assistant coach Ramon Janeo yesterday said that the PFF-Suzuki U-23 National Cup Group B elimination matches, earlier reported as May 15-20, 2011, has been set on May 6-15.

He also added that aside from Leo Rey Yanson, Ricky Yanson Jr. will also serve as one of the team managers.

THE CEBU 19-Under Men’s squad had an unlucky debut match in the Philippine Football Federation Men’s National U19 Championship Visayas Qualifiers as it dropped a 1-2 loss to home team Bacolod City at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

At first, both teams were evenly matched, but Cebu’s goalkeeper Henry Perales was pulled out of the match after suffering a head injury in the second half that led to scoring opportunities for Bacolod City. Perales suffered a gash in the head after an oncoming Bacolod player’s teeth sank in his forehead that forced him to be substituted by reserve goalie Romeo Du.

MANILA, Philippines—With a stronger squad that will be toughened up in Germany, Philippine football team manager Dan Palami likes the Azkals’ chances against Sri Lanka in the first round of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers in June.

“With our preparation and the quality of our players, it’s safe to say that we will have more than a fair chance against Sri Lanka,” Palami said in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila.

“Sri Lanka is better than Bangladesh, but we will also have a lineup stronger than what we had when we played Bangladesh,” added Palami, the man credited for the Azkals’ rise. The Azkals blanked Bangladesh, 3-0, in the AFC Challenge Cup in Myanmar last month.

The Azkals battle Sri Lanka on June 29 in Colombo, before returning to Manila for the second leg on July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The winner advances opposite Kuwait.

“There will be a 150 percent improvement in our lineup,” Palami said, noting the inclusion of Stefan Schrock, Manny Ott, Dennis Cagara and two more United States-based players who shone in the tryouts held by skipper Aly Borromeo and Anton del Rosario early this month.

With the Azkals needing P15 million for their World Cup campaign, Palami said they would be launching a campaign dubbed “We Believe” to attract more support for the squad.

“We’re hoping that more people will support our team because we really need it now,” he added at the weekly forum sponsored by Smart, Pagcor, Outlast Battery and Accel.

The Philippine men's football team, the Azkals, will resume its training on May 9 to begin its build-up for its first round tie against Sri Lanka in the 2014 World Cup Asian qualifier, said team manager Dan Palami.

Palami, who graced Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum, said that the Azkals will train at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City until May 23 before heading to Cebu for a team building session from May 25 to 31.

The Azkals will then head to Germany for another training camp from June 12 to 26 where they will also play tune-up matches with German Division II and Division III teams.

"The players who will play for the team against Sri Lanka will most likely be there in Germany," said Palami.

After Germany, the team will go straight to Sri Lanka to play the first leg on June 29.

The Azkals are also hoping to practice at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in early June where they expect the field to be ready in time for the July 3 second leg.

"Hopefully, we could take advantage of the familiarity of the field," said Palami.

Palami said that Rizal is already fit for playing but there are still minor holes in the field that requires minimal repairs.

During the Holy Week break, the Azkals have organized training camps in the United States and Germany in hopes to discover players not only for the national team but also for the Under-23 players that will compete in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News

According to Janeo, Red Avelino of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) disclosed this information to him after the Negros team topped the Visayas Regional finals in Dumaguete last week, sweeping all four teams in the region at Siliman Ball Park.

The huge 11-0 victory of the Negros Selection over Leyte Football Association (FA) sent a strong message that Negrense booters remain to be among the country’s best. They also disappointed their Iloilo rivals on a 1-0 victory with J Baguioro’s goal in the 44th minute of the match while Negros blanked Cebu and Dumaguete, 3-0 during their first and second assignments in the tournament.

Janeo further said that among the teams which will play at Panaad grounds will be the winners of the April 28-30 scheduled matches for the Luzon and Mindanao clusters.

Those vying for positions to represent National Capital Region (NCR) and Luzon are the Baguio City Benguet Football Association (FA) and Laguna FA in the North, Central and South Luzon cluster while Naga City-Camarines Sur FA and Oriental Mindoro FA will battle it out in the Southeast Luzon cluster. The right to earn a slot for NCR or Luzon will be based on the team’s ranking after the April 28-30 games which will be played at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Laguna.

On the other hand, among the teams to slug it out for the top two spots in the All-Mindanao Finals are Davao FA, Cagayan de Oro (CDO)-Misamis Oriental FA, North Cotabato and Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog FA. Matches will be played at Tionko field in Davao City.

Davao advanced to the All-Mindanao Finals by topping the Southern Mindanao eliminations with a total of six points after winning its two matches in the three-team field while CDO controlled North Mindanao as North Cotabato and Zamboanga took the Central and West Mindanao, respectively.

The staging of the PFF-Suzuki U-23 Cup is a partnership of the PFF and Suzuki Philippines to tap the wealth of talented booters in the country.

The top teams that will make it to the finals will clash in a home and away championship match, after which the winner will be crowned as the PFF-Suzuki U-23 Champions.

Moreover, these two top teams will possibly serve as a pool where majority of the players to compose the next ‘Azkals’ will come from and will represent the country in the upcoming 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia.

SIX teams from Cebu City will be competing in Mayor Rick’s Invitational Beach Soccer this Saturday at the Kawit Beach in Medellin, an activity that will increase the locals’ awareness of the ever-growing sport of football.

University of San Carlos and Saint Theresa’s College will be fielding two teams each along with San Roque FC, Jivas Regal and Cebu State College of Science and Technology in the one-day beach football tournament.

The event is part of the activities in the town’s fiesta and organizers are hoping that it will also help raise awareness for the sport in the town.

“We are still introducing the football program there,” Joel Deen, one of the organizers, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

The tournament, which will start at 8 a.m., will follow a single round-robin format, wherein the top two teams will battle in the championship round.

Aside from the beach football event, Deen also said the Cebu Football Association will be conducting a seminar for school teachers on May 3. Eleazar Toledo of the CFA will head the seminar targeted for elementary and high school students.

The town has also made a push to increase the popularity of the sport as the town’s mayor, Rick Ramirez, has started building full-sized pitches near schools.

Columbia settled for the runner-up honors while WT-FM grabbed the third spot by beating Hooligans FC, 2-0. The latter finished fourth in the event presented by Ebocci and organized by the Davao Football Association.

The top four teams received trophies from Ebocci team manager Regie Ozimms during the awarding ceremony that was also graced by Columbia team manager Edward "Chaya" Lim, Medvil team manager Rafael "Pops" Vilela, tournament commissioner Noel Presto and DFA general secretary Erwin Protacio.

Ozimms cited the growing interest of youth players who have already been playing against senior footballers.

Protacio, in an e-mailed statement, said most players of champion team Medvil will compose the Davao City team that will see action in the Mindanao Regionals of the PFF-Suzuki U23 Championships on April 28 to 30 and in the PFF Smart Club Championship on May 4 to 6.

The Davao U 19 team, meanwhile, will compete in a tournament in Camp Phillips, Bukidnon on April 27 to 29.

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Men’s National U19 Championship Visayas Regional Qualifiers kicks off today at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

The bootfest, which will run from April 26 to 29, is aimed at reviving the national and local competitions, as well as in helping identify talents for the men's U19 national team which will see action in international competitions later this year.

Host Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) will be facing Cebu FA in the opening match at 2 p.m., followed by the scrimmage between the teams from Iloilo FA and Leyte FA at 4 p.m.

According to the event’s general coordinator Paulline Javelona, the NOFA-Negros Selection will be mentored by Randy Clavecillas and will be bannered by booters from the cities of Talisay, Victorias, Bago and Bacolod.

Five teams will be vying for the regional title to earn a slot in the national finals in Manila, tentatively slated May 20 to 29. These are the Cebu FA, Leyte FA, Iloilo FA, Negros Oriental FA (NORFA) and host- NOFA.

MANILA---The Philippine Football Federation found yesterday a sponsor that will shoulder the national team’s airfare to its training site in Germany and Sri Lanka, where it will play its first World Cup qualifying match on June 29.

The team’s plane tickets for both trips cost a total of P5 million, according to PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, who declined to name the airline sponsor.

Araneta said the federation is doing everything to help Azkals manager Dan Palami secure funds for the squad, which needs P15 million to compete in the first two rounds of the qualifiers.

“We’re confident we can raise funds for the team, together with Mr. Palami,” said Araneta.

The Azkals will play the first leg against the Sri Lankans in Colombo on June 28. The return leg is set July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

In preparation for the duel with Sri Lanka, the Azkals will undergo a two-week camp in Duren, Germany, starting June 12.

Araneta said they will wait for the seating layout that will be made by San Miguel Corp., which is funding the installation of grandstand seats, before announcing the ticket prices for the game.

He said the target is to start selling tickets a month before the match.

24 April 2011

STRIKER Phil Younghusband is now "70 percent" recovered from a torn right hamstring and should be ready to join the national men’s football team fitness camp that kicks off early May, according to conditioning coach Joseph Malinay.

"Phil is 70 percent fit and he will be ready to join our fitness camp next month," said Malinay, who was tasked by team manager Dan Palami to monitor the rehabilitation of the popular 24-year-old forward.

"He is still undergoing treatment with St. Luke sports doctor Randy Molo but everything is on track," Malinay added.

Younghusband suffered the injury during the second leg of the Azkals’ Asian Challenge Cup qualifiers against Mongolia in Ulan Bator last March 15 which they lost 1-2. They still managed to reach the group stage in Myanmar a week later with a 3-2 aggregate score.

As a result, Younghusband was sidelined during the Myanmar competition where the Filipino booters finished second behind group champion Palestine to earn a ticket to the main tournament next year.

Since then, the younger of the Younghusband siblings on the national team– the other being midfielder James—has been undergoing rehab under the watchful eyes of Malinay, who saw Phil’s performance in last week’s Smart Club competitions as a positive sign in his recovery.

"He (Phil) told me that he wasn’t really pushing himself in the tournament. Laru-laro lang. But it’s a good indication that he’s regaining his shape," he said.

In his first outing for a local club, Younghusband scored the opening goal in Rizal’s 10-0 romp over Laguna last Wednesday to cap the team’s four-game sweep of the North-South-Central Luzon cluster eliminations of the Smart Club Championship.

Malinay said the coaching staff hopes the striker would be "80 to 90" percent fit when the fitness camp opens "and 100 percent ready when we begin our World Cup qualifying series against Sri Lanka on June 29."

After a five-day respite, Younghusband will resume his rehab tomorrow as he continues with his agility and flexibility workouts, Malinay said.

Malinay said national coach Han Michael Weiss, who is in Germany to scout and recruit more team hopefuls, is set to return on April 28. On his arrival, the venue for the training camp will be decided.

The Alabang Country Club inside the plush Ayala Alabang subdivision in Muntinlupa City and the International School of Manila at the Fort in Taguig City are being eyed as possible sites of the camp.

MANILA—The Philippine football team is strengthening its coaching staff with the hiring of Swiss World Cup veteran Pascal Zuberbuhler as goalkeeper coach for the 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

The Azkals will play Sri Lanka on June 28 in Colombo while the second leg is set at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on July 3.

The winner of the showdown will meet Kuwait on the third week of July.

A teammate of Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge at Fulham, Zuberbuhler is expected to link up with the PH squad in Duren, Germany, where the Azkals will undergo a two-week camp starting June 12.

The 40-year-old Zuberbuhler brings with him an impressive resume as a player, having been capped 51 times by Switzerland, which he represented in the European Championship in 2004 and 2008 as well as the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“We’re not taking any chances that’s why we tapped him for the World Cup qualifiers,” said team manager Dan Palami. “His experience as a player will help our squad of goalkeepers get to the next level.”

Aside from Etheridge, the Azkals have three other goalkeepers in their pool, including Eduard Sacapano, who saw action in the 1-2 defeat to Mongolia in the AFC Challenge Cup, and teenagers Christopher Camcam and Paolo Pascual.

The 16-year-old Camcam is currently in Germany attending a training camp, which was facilitated by Azkals coach Michael Weiss.

Edzel Bracamonte, one of the members of the Azkals coaching staff, has been helping out in training the goalkeepers in previous tournaments.

“Zuberbuhler will not just train our goalkeepers but also our coaches,” said Palami. “It will be a transfer of technology.”

Etheridge has been quick to vouch for Zuberbuhler, saying he is known at Fulham for his professionalism and work ethic.

“Zubi (Zuberbuhler) has been more of a father figure guiding me,” said Etheridge.

Zuberbuhler, who spent the early part of his career with Grasshopper Zurich where he played for 187 times, actually signified his interest to join the Azkals coaching staff through Etheridge, who recently signed a two-year deal with Fulham.

MANILA—Phil and James Younghusband combined for three goals to lead Rizal’s 10-0 rout of Laguna and a sweep of the North-South-Central Luzon cluster eliminations of the Smart Club Championships recently at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

In his first goal in local club play, Phil opened the scoring in the 16th minute while elder brother James struck twice in the 50th and 54th minutes as the Rizal booters topped the five-team tourney with their fourth victory in a row.

The hosts absorbed their second loss in four outings, paving the way for Baguio-Benguet, which closed out with a 3-1 win-loss card, to snatch the second slot in the all-Luzon finals of the event sponsored by Smart and organized by the Philippine Football Federation.

Tarlac beat winless Quezon, 4-2, for its first victory in four games to finish fourth while their foes wound up last with a 0-4 record.

Rizal and Baguio-Benguet will join Masbate and Naga City-Camarines Sur in the all-Luzon tourney scheduled on May 11 to 13 also at the UPLB pitch.

The top two teams in the all-Luzon elims will represent the region in the Smart Club Championship nationals tentatively set either in late May or early June.

Next up is the Western Mindanao cluster qualifiers on April 26 to 28 in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur featuring teams from Misamis Occidental-Ozamis, Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog and Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian. (PR)

EXCITING football action returns with the staging of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Suzuki U23 Mindanao Finals from April 28 to 30 at the Tionko Football Grounds along Bolton Riverside, Quimpo Blvd., Davao City.

Competing in the three-day event are the host and powerhouse team Davao City FA, Dipolog FA, North Cotabato FA and Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental FA (CMOFA).

The Davao Football Association (DFA) announced that the top two teams will advance to the National Finals scheduled in May. To qualify, players must be born on or after January 1, 1988.

The tournament is a part of the 1st Davao Summerfest celebration in cooperation with the Davao City Sports Development Division, the Davao City Tourism Office and the Davao Association of Tour Operators.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and other City Government officials have been invited to grace the opening kickoff. (CRAM)

MANILA, Philippines — The tryout for the Philippine football team in Germany begins today as a bevy of Filipino-foreigners strut their wares in the Nagold International Football tournament in Nagold, Germany.

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said the competition, where the Fil-foreign booters compete as a Philippine side, will serve as the tryout at the Eugene Breitling Stadium.

Five other teams, including the A-youth of the Stuttgarter Kickers and SSV Reutlingen will see action in the tourney held to celebrate the 100 years of football in Nagold, a town in southwestern Germany, according to a story posted at the www.schwarzwaelder-bote.de

“Tryouts will be in Nagold during a short tournament on Monday ,” the German mentor told the Bulletin.

While the tryout is meant to strengthen the Azkals for future international tournaments, including the coming World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka, Weiss said he has no plans of recruiting many players.

“Not too many. The backbone of the team deserves trust. (We will) only (get) real quality players,” Weiss, 46, said. “If the new ones are better, they will play.”

The German newspaper said the competition also serves as the Philippine U-20 selection, and that only two Filipino players came directly from the Philippines to play.

With the quarterfinals stage of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup a few weeks away, the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) will officially announce the members of the two squads they are fielding to represent the NCR on April 30.

The teams are expected to be beefed up by players from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Hans Peter Smit of La Salle, who was appointed by the NCRFA as head coach, said that Rodolfo Alicante of Far Eastern University, Andres Gonzales of UAAP champion University of the Philippines, and Florante “Lolong" Valencia, who will be the goal keeper coach, will be assisting him in the coaching staff.

“The coaching staff will handle both teams," clarified Smit. “We are going with what we have even if we do not have the luxury of an 18-man roster."

Although the rosters have yet to be finalized, Smit bared a few names who are already assured of slots in the two teams.

“We have two members of the Philippine men’s national team joining the teams," said Smit. “They’re Yannick Tuazon and David Basa."

Permanes, a two-time UAAP champion was adjudged the MVP of the last football tournament while teammate Valmayor was Rookie of the Year on top of being the lead scorer of the season.

Of the aforementioned players, Valmayor, Melliza, and Aguisanda were born outside Metro Manila.

Tournament rules allow players to suit up for teams outside their province of birth provided that they play in that local area. In the recently-concluded Visayan Regionals, Jake Morallo played for Bacolod in spite of being born in Dumaguete. Morris John Tulang was born in Dipolog, but played for Dumaguete since he attends at Foundation University located in Negros Oriental. - RCJ, GMA News

Davao City Host Lions Club in cooperation with the Davao Football Association invites you to participate in the 1st Davao City Host Lions Club Football Festival 2011 scheduled on May 14 & 15, 2011 at 7:30am at Tionko Field, Davao City. This tournament aims to raise awareness on health by promoting and encouraging to engage in sports and to raise funds for the benefit of Davao School and Rehabilitation Center for the visually impaired in their mission to provide every blind person within their scope of program to become self-reliant and economically-productive member of society.

This festivity will include the categories in the grassroots, youth, men's and women's categories. The events are in small sided format to encourage more teams to participate and hence make the atmosphere more festive. The following are the Registration fees:

We would appreciate your participation as Davao City Hosts Lions Club initiates the club's first football festival. In this regard, may we request your confirmation on or before May 6, 2011. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Erwin Protacio, General Secretary of the Davao Football Association at eeprotacio@yahoo.com or at 0917-434-5114 and Arah May Q. Ambo, Acting Asst. Secretary of the Davao City Host Lions Club at dvo_hrd@instatech.net or at (082) 296-1191 or at 0922-887-8969 or you may fax us at (082)298-3640.

23 April 2011

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the team will need about P15 million for the first two rounds of the qualifiers, including the two-week training in Duren, Germany, in June.

“It’s a different level, that’s the reason why it will really cost us,” Palami told the Inquirer.

Palami, who has been bankrolling the squad since late 2009, hopes more backers will support the squad’s campaign for a place in football’s centerpiece event in Brazil.

The bulk of the expenses will be for the training camp in Germany, where the Azkals are expected to face second and third division clubs.

From Germany, the Azkals will fly straight to Colombo for the first leg duel with the Sri Lankans on June 29. The second leg is set July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“I’m sure the training in Germany will give us the necessary preparation for Sri Lanka and hopefully, Kuwait, in the next round,” said Palami.

“Our June camp will be crucial for our team in terms of cohesion,” said Azkals German coach Michael Weiss.

The winner of the Philippines-Sri Lanka duel will move to the second round opposite Kuwait in the third week of June.

Palami is confident that the Azkals will be at full strength for the World Cup qualifiers with highly touted rightback Stefan Schrock, who has recovered from a knee injury recently, and leftback Dennis Cagara, who signed up with a Danish first division side, expected to make the squad.

MANILA, Philippines — Overconfidence has no place in the national football team.

With a little over two months to go before an important match, coach Hans Michael Weiss is leaving no stone unturned to prepare the Philippine Azkals.

The German mentor said he will start watching the tapes of the Sri Lanka football team so that he can map out his strategy for the Azkals who are set to meet the Sri Lankans on June 29 in the first-round World Cup qualifying match.

Sri Lanka has announced that the first leg of the home-and-away series will be held at the 25,000-seater Sugatahdasa Stadium in Colombo with the return leg set five days later in Manila at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium which will undergo a facelift.

“We will get the tapes from recent AFC Challenge Cup group qualifier in Nepal,” Weiss told the Bulletin.

Two weeks ago, Sri Lanka saw action in the Challenge Cup Group D qualifier, where it failed to win a single match, bowing to 2010 World Cup qualifier North Korea (0-4) and Afghanistan (0-1) while forcing a scoreless draw opposite Nepal.

The Azkals joined a similar qualifying tournament in Myanmar last month, and managed to advance to the finals next year after finishing second in Group A with one win and two draws.

Sri Lanka is 18 spots lower than the Philippines at 173 in the latest FIFA rankings, but Weiss has no plans of taking the South Asian team for granted.

In fact, the 46-year-old Weiss is in Germany scouting for promising players who could strengthen the Azkals. He will hold a two-day camp starting today before conducting a tryout on Monday at Nagold, a town in southwestern Germany.

Weiss said “two interesting players are now trying to present themselves.”

They are 18-year-old Kevin Ingreso and 19-year-old Brian Hoffman whose mothers are Filipinas.

Ingreso plays as an attacking midfielder for Hamburger SV (Sport-Verein) Under-19 squad while Hoffman comes from the youth academy in VFB (Verein für Bewegungsspiele) Stuttgart, which plays in Bundesliga.

The 5-foot-10 Ingreso has scored four goals in 21 games he played in North Regionaliga under Hamburger SV second team and U-19 Bundesliga North/Northeast.

The Azkals will be reinforced by a Fil-German in Markus Stephan Schrock, who has already secured a Philippine passport.

The Philippine Football Federation - Suzuki U23 Mindanao Finals will be on April 28 - 30 at the Tionko Football Grounds, Bolton Riverside, Quimpo Blvd., Davao City. The teams that qualified are Dipolog FA, North Cotabato FA, Cagayan de Oro - Misamis Oriental FA (CMOFA), and Davao FA. The top two (2) teams will advance to the National Finals scheduled in May 2011. To qualify, players must be born on or after January 1, 1988.

This tournament is a part of the 1st Davao Summerfest celebration in cooperation with the Davao City Sports Development Division, the Davao City Tourism Office, and the Davao Association of Tour Operators. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and other city officials are invited to grace the opening kick off.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will conduct try outs for the Boys U16 National Team that will compete in the Asean Football Federation U 16 Youth Championships 2011 on July 7 - 20, 2011 in Laos. The tryout will be on April 26, 2011 at the Tionko Football Grounds, Bolton Riverside, Quimpo Blvd., Davao City starting at 2:00 PM. Mr. Glen Ramos will be conducting the try outs and head the selection process for determining candidates of the team.

Players must be born on or after January 1, 1996. Other requirements are: 4 passport size pictures, photo copy of NSO certified birth certificate or Philippine passport, and a medical certificate to be submitted during the try out period.

Other venues for the try outs are in Barotac Nuevo (April 15); Bacolod City (April 18); National Capital Region (April 30); and Laguna (April 31).

22 April 2011

The Philippines U20 team is with mainly fil-Germans some of them older than 20 years old.Chris Camcam is the only known player from Philippines, but the article is reporting that it will be two players from Philippines.

Patrick Hinrichsen was in the squad in AFC Challenge Cup in Myanmar but did not play.

21 April 2011

BAGUIO City is fast gaining notoriety in the pitch after dismantling their rivals in the ongoing northern Luzon leg of the Men's Smart National Open Club Championship.

Both the under 19, under 23 and the men’s open squads will be qualifying for the next round which is the All Luzon group stage with the top two teams of each Northern and Southern Luzon groups for a four-team group stage for Luzon.

The top two of this group will represent Luzon in the final 8 for the national championships.

The men’s squad, despite losing to a Phil Younghusband led Rizal, 0-7, will also advance in the Luzon group stage.

The under 19 meanwhile downed Laguna, 4-2, and scored a 7-1 victory against Tarlac.

After a five-year hiatus, the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) finally organized the first official league – the Smart National Clubs Championship held in the different parts of the country.

The last nationwide competition was the National Men’s Open Tournament held in Bacolod City five years ago under the presidency of Juan Miguel Romualdez although plans for a similar competition under previous PFF president Jose Mari Martinez – who succeeded Romualdez – did not push through for a variety of reasons.

The top four teams from the Luzon cluster-qualifying round, the top team from each of the Mindanao group clusters, and the top two club teams from NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao winners will advance to the finals which will be played in Manila from June 6 to 25.

The under 23 team will be seeing action on April 28 to 30 at UP Los Baños while the under 19 squad follows next. (Roderick Osis)

Pagadian City (ZSPFA) will be hosting the PFF-Smart Club Championships West Mindanao Cluster on 26-28 April 2011. Teams are: Pagadian, Ozamis, Dipolog & Zamboanga... The winner will go to Davao for the All-Mindanao Club Qualifiers this May 2011.

20 April 2011

MANILA, Philippines – Rizal and Laguna scored contrasting wins over separate foes on Tuesday to remain unbeaten in the Smart Club Championship Luzon regionals at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) football field in Los Baños, Laguna.

The two squads joined early qualifiers Masbate and Naga City-Camarines Sur in the all-Luzon tournament, which will take place also at the UPLB pitch from May 11 to 13.

The event is sponsored by Smart and organized by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

Rizal and Laguna were set to dispute cluster honors on Wednesday following the match between winless Tarlac and Quezon, which both sport 0-3 win-loss slates in the 5-team tourney.

Rizal vs Baguio-Benguet

Pedimonte went on a 4-goal rampage, straddling the first and second periods starting from the 13th minute and ending in the 65th to settle the issue for powerhouse Rizal.

V. Melendrez had two goals (75th and 81st ) while J. Dimaculangan was credited for the last goal (85th) in the lopsided match.

Laguna vs Tarlac

Nigerian forward Glen Malu scored a hat trick in the first period (3rd, 23rd and 29th) as Laguna surged to a 5-1 halftime lead.

But Tarlac countered with 3 straight goals in the second half. The strike was spearheaded by L. Ramos, who sandwiched teammate B. Manuel’s goal in the 53rd with markers in the 51st and 60th minutes, to narrow the gap at 4-5.

After Laguna and Tarlac traded goals through Mersan Romedja (74th) and G. Alvarez (83rd), respectively, L. Malbuyug ensured the win for the hosts with the final goal in the 91st minute.

MANILA, Philippines — The tryouts for the Philippine football team in Germany has yet to start, but coach Hans Michael Weiss has already spotted two promising Filipino-Germans who could boost the team’s bid in future international tournaments, including their looming World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka.

The 46-year-old coach will be working despite the Holy Week break as he scheduled a two-day camp beginning Saturday before conducting the tryouts on Monday in Nagold, a town in southwestern Germany.

“(There are) two interesting players who are now trying to present themselves,” Weiss told the Bulletin in an e-mail yesterday.

The German coach was referring to Kevin Ingreso, 18, and Brian Hoffman, 19. Ingreso plays as an attacking midfielder for Hamburger SV (Sport-Verein) Under-19 squad while Hoffman comes from the youth academy in VFB (Verein für Bewegungsspiele) Stuttgart, which plays in Bundesliga.

The 5-foot-10 Ingreso has scored four goals in 21 games he played in North Regionaliga under Hamburger SV second team and U-19 Bundesliga North/Northeast.

Earlier this month, a similar Azkals tryouts in the United States, conducted by Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo and defender Anton Del Rosario, drew 37 aspirants.

To prepare for their home-and-away World Cup qualifying series which begins June 29 in Colombo, the Azkals will camp out in Germany in the second week of June.

“The Azkals camp will be held in Duren on the Dutch border near Cologne,” Weiss said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Football Federation is eyeing the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City as a new site for the construction of a football pitch which FIFA will finance through a $500,000 (P21.7 million) grant.

PFF chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta Jr. had earlier proposed to FIFA that the pitch be built in the parcel of land in Parañaque City which was donated by El Shaddai’s charismatic leader Bro. Mike Velarde.

But FIFA officials Jeysing Muthia and Markus Keller inspected the site two weeks ago and were not too sold to the idea of building the pitch too close to the airport.

19 April 2011

THE Philippine Football Federation intends to build an artificial pitch at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City using funds coming from FIFA’s Goal Project, according to PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr.

Araneta said the PFF has held initial talks with the Philippine Sports Commission, which has control over the Arena, and has received an encouraging response.

The pitch will replace the football field at the arena being managed by the PSC.

"We have had initial talks with PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga, who oversees football, and they are offering the PFF the Philsports football field where the federation can construct the artificial pitch," Araneta said in an interview last Monday. "The PSC’s terms are favorable and on a long-term basis."

Through its Goal project, which provides funds for football infrastructure such as fields and facilities, FIFA has earmarked $500,000 for the artificial pitch, Araneta said, adding the accessibility of the Philsports Complex to mass transport is important to the project.

Araneta added that future financial aid from the Goal Project will be used to refurbish existing dormitories at the government sports agency-administered facility, which will serve as the quarters of the PFF national teams.

"We only need to renovate the existing dorms at Philsports, which the PSC are also offering, using funds from future Goal Project subsidies and these will become the quarters of our national squads, including the Azkals," he said.

Araneta said this is another reason why the PFF is inclined to accept the PSC deal, which will be submitted to FIFA for approval.

An artificial pitch requires minimum maintenance and allows play in virtually all weather conditions.

"Moreover, the FIFA will give new funds to replace the artificial pitch after 10 years, the usual life span of this turf," he said.

El Shaddai spiritual leader Mike Velarde had earlier offered a prime lot in Paranaque as venue for the artificial turf but Araneta said the PFF is more inclined to accept the PSC offer.

"We would like to thank Brother Mike for offering his lot to further boost football, which shows his faith in the future of the sport in the country," he said.

MANILA, Philippines - Bacolod edged Iloilo, 1-0, in a duel of fancied teams as it took the pole position in the Visayas Regionals of the PFF Suzuki Under-23 Cup at the Cimafranca Field in Dumaguete City over the weekend.

Jay Baguioro slammed the lone goal off Iloilo keeper Wilson Muñoz, who lost possession after foiling Bacolod midfielder Jovin Bedic’s low cross from the right wing in the 44th minute.

“It’s a real rivalry. Whether elementary, high school, collegiate or club game. We expect nothing less from them and vice versa,” said Bacolod head coach Norman Fegidero.

It was a typical Bacolod-Iloilo match with elbows, tackles, and harsh words thrown around. Eight yellow cards were issued with one red card.

The match was temporarily stopped in the 70th minute when Iloilo assistant coach Richard Bedia was thrown out by referee Vladimir Villacora.

Iloilo dominated first half action with superb control in the midfield by Francis Gustilo and Shirmar Felongco.

Cebu immediately took the lead in the first half with scores from Jess Rey Melgo, who just returned after being suspended for a game, and Joseph Rodriguez. However, Dumaguete City managed to bang in two goals to level the match before halftime.

Cebu was determined to win its last match of the tournament and scored all three goals in the second half from Rodriguez, Jolito Lucena and Joven Reyes.

After the victory, Cebu overtook Dumaguete City for third place with six points. Cebu is only behind second placer Iloilo on goal difference.

Bacolod City, which has nine points, will most likely be crowned the winner of the competition after edging out Iloilo, 1-0, yesterday.

Toledo said Cebu still has a slim chance of capturing second place if Dumaguete City beats Iloilo today by more than four goals.

AFTER posting two consecutive victories over the weekend, the Ceres-Negros Selection will be facing the Iloilo booters 1 p.m. Monday to earn the leadership in the ongoing PFF-Suzuki U-23 Cup Visayas Regionals scheduled April 15-19, 2011 at Siliman Ball Park in Dumaguete.

Mentored by former national men’s team head coach Norman Fegidero, the local squad blanked host-Dumaguete Sunday, 3-0 behind two goals from Jovin Bedic in the first half of play while Joshua Beloya scored on a penalty kick over an illegal sweep inside the box during the second half.

Last Saturday, the Negrenses also trashed Cebu, 3-0. Aldrin Dolino scored two goals in the 4th and 14th minute, respectively, to close the first period with a 2-0 advantage. In the second half, Beloya registered another goal in the 65th minute to seal the Negrenses’ first win.

Meanwhile, Iloilo demolished Leyte with an 8-0 score on Saturday and posted its second win after a 2-0 triumph over Cebu on Friday.

The staging of PFF-Suzuki U-23 Cup is a partnership of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Suzuki Philippines to tap the wealth of talented booters in the country.

The top teams that will make it to the finals will clash in a home and away championship match, after which the winner will be crowned as the PFF-Suzuki U-23 Champions.

Moreover, these two top teams will possibly serve as a pool where majority of the players to compose the next "Azkals" will come from and will represent the country in the upcoming 2011 SEAGames in Indonesia.

17 April 2011

DESPITE losing two of its key players to red cards the other day, Cebu made up for the loss with its bench players stepping up to rout Leyte, 5-0, in the Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki U-23 National Cup in Dumaguete City.

“It was expected that we will win the game,” Cebu 23-Under Men’s team coach Eleazar Toledo told Sun.Star Cebu.

Cebu was without midfielder Jess Rey Melgo and defender Edmar Galacio, who were both kicked out of the Cebu’s match with Bacolod City last Saturday.

“I used the subs and they played good football, patiently attacking and building up the game,” he said.

AN undermanned Cebu Elite 23-Under Men’s team remained winless after suffering its second straight loss in the Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki Under-23 National Cup yesterday in Dumaguete City.

Following a 2-0 loss to Iloilo the other day, the Cebuanos once again faltered, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bacolod City, after two of its players Jess Roy Melgo and Edmar Galacio were slapped with red cards in the second half of the elimination match.

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“We were beaten by Bacolod. We were down to nine players because two of my players were given red cards,” Cebu Elite 23-Under Men’s team coach Eleazar Toledo told Sun.Star Cebu.

“Bad calls. We can’t do anything about it because the referee’s decision is final. Our chances (of entering the finals) are slim.”

Toledo lauded his team’s performance. He partly blames the loss to the referee’s decision to kick Melgo and Galacio out of the game.

The Cebuanos will miss the services of Melgo and Galacio in the third elimination match against Leyte today at 3 p.m.

Girls team

Cebu’s chance of advancing is bleak because only the top two teams will advance to the finals.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Elite 18-Under Girls team settled for third place in the 1st Gov. Marañon National Selection Tournament last week at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, after finishing with six points from two wins and two losses.

The Cebuanas beat Zamboanga, 12-0, and Dumaguete, 3-0, but lost to Bacolod City and Iloilo, 3-0 and 6-0, respectively.

MANILA—The 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifying match against Sri Lanka may be more than two months away, but Philippine football team manager Dan Palami yesterday said preparations have already begun with the decision to have the Azkals train in Germany.

Palami said the Azkals will train in Germany for two weeks starting June 12 in preparation for the first leg showdown with Sri Lanka on June 29 either in Colombo or in Kalutara and the return leg five days later at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The training camp could be the toughest yet for the Azkals as Palami, with the help of the German Football Association (DFB), is eyeing at least five tuneup matches against several German clubs, including a team playing in the second division.

“We’re not treating Sri Lanka lightly that’s why we will have the best possible preparation,” said Palami. “We should still prepare and play like we haven’t achieved anything.”

The Azkals reached the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup for the first time last December and qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup main tournament this year after finishing second in their group in Yangon, Myanmar.

Palami is confident that he can have all of the players available for the training camp as well as for the two matches against Sri Lanka.

Schrock, an aggressive rightback, whose team Greuther Furth is close to cracking the German Bundesliga, has promised to join the squad for the Sri Lanka match.

Palami said Jason de Jong, the Filipino-Dutch midfielder, who has fallen out of favor with coach Michael Weiss, will be given another chance as long as he joins training camp and explains his absence during the second leg of the Mongolia match and the group stage in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission has approved the proposal of San Miguel to install grandstand seats and the LED scoreboard at the Rizal Memorial for the Azkals-Sri Lanka clash.

In return, San Miguel is asking branding on all VIP seats, on the stadium scoreboard, non-camera facing banners and streamers on the stadium.

“That really is our target, to improve the standard of the stadium so we can also host other big events in the future,” said PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga at the SCOOP sa Kamayan weekly session.

The Rizal Memorial Stadium, which could accommodate up to 25,000 spectators, has not hosted an international football match since the 1991 Southeast Asian Games, where the Philippines reached the semifinals.

“It’s about time we play in Manila,” said Palami. “This will be a litmus test if the popularity of football has gone beyond the Visayas region.”

Unlike the match against Mongolia last February 9 when tickets were free, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the PFF will be selling tickets for the match through a third-party firm.